Tony Awards, annual awards for distinguished achievement in American theatre. Named for the actress-producer Antoinette Perry, the annual awards were established in 1947 by the American Theatre Wing and are intended to recognize excellence in plays and musicals staged on Broadway. Awards are given for best play, best musical, best play revival, and best musical revival, and in categories such as acting, directing, music, choreography, set design, and costume design.

The cast of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone performing during the Tony …

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times/Redux

Winners of Tony Awards for best musical and best play are provided in the table.

New York City thoroughfare that traverses the length of Manhattan, near the middle of which are clustered the theatres that have long made it the foremost showcase of commercial stage entertainment in the United States. The term Broadway is virtually synonymous with American theatrical activity.

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The Antoinette Perry Memorial Awards, commonly known as the Tonys, are presented annually by the American Theatre Wing for outstanding contributions to theater in the United States. The awards are named in honor of actress and director Antoinette Perry, a cofounder and chairman of the Theatre Wing. The Tonys were first awarded in 1947.